Cepillar is a verb in Spanish.
/θeˈpilar/ (in Spain) or /seˈpilar/ (in Latin America)
Cepillar primarily means "to brush" and is commonly used to refer to the action of cleaning or grooming something using a brush. This verb can be applied in various contexts, such as brushing teeth, hair, or cleaning surfaces. The term is frequently used in both oral and written Spanish but tends to be more prevalent in everyday conversations—hence, it is more common in oral speech.
Es importante cepillar los dientes al menos dos veces al día.
It is important to brush your teeth at least twice a day.
Voy a cepillar a mi perro esta tarde.
I am going to brush my dog this afternoon.
Antes de pintar, debes cepillar la superficie para quitar el polvo.
Before painting, you should brush the surface to remove dust.
Though cepillar is not commonly featured in idiomatic expressions compared to some other verbs, it can form part of phrases related to cleanliness and grooming. Here are a few examples:
Cepillar la alfombra para que luzca impecable.
Brush the carpet to make it look spotless.
Siempre debes cepillar las dudas antes de hablar.
You should always brush away doubts before speaking.
Es necesario cepillar los cabellos enredados para que no se rompan.
It’s necessary to brush out tangled hair so it doesn’t break.
The word cepillar comes from the noun cepillo, which means "brush." The root of cepillo is derived from the Latin word cæpillium, indicating a small brush or grooming tool. The verb form suggests the action of using a brush.